Curved cabinets

[jszmgpolk]

Anyone know if someone has built the Natalie P in a curved enclosure. Or where I might find links to build threads.

[ThomasW]

Are you asking about the PE curved cabinets or custom cabinets?

[bbcmp1979]

I don't remember seeing a curve natalie ps enclosure, but did see the curved cabinets at partsexpress as Thomas said.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=302-753

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=302-741

[ThomasW]

PE's curved cabinets didn't exist when the NatP was developed. but the design will certainly work in them.

[jszmgpolk]

Im wanting to do a tower with the curved design. I have searched and not seen anything. I have no software to design the enclosure. I know how to build the curved design if i only had the dimensions. Could someone help or am I gonna have to wing this.

I guess what im asking is. The 50l design that is suggested is the one I would like to build except with curved cabinets. I know this will change the volume and I need to keep the baffle the same. If I keep the baffle the suggested 9" and curve the sides, will this increase the volume too much. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys

[JonMarsh]

Generally, the problem is that curved cabinets REDUCE the size of the volume, if the front panel is the same width. An easy way to rule of thumb it is to use a similar trapezoid to calculate the area, times the internal height. Translam constructions also complicate things a bit because of the typical internal braces, but it's not like a 15% difference in volume is going to have a huge effect on the behavior.

[jszmgpolk]

So do you think I should just stick with the original design, this is my first diy project but like the design of the curved sides to please the wife. Do you think the curved sides would not be a good idea for the Natalie in the tower.

[---k---]

There is nothing wrong with curved sides. It is just a lot harder construction. A lot of people have done them. I can't remember the NatP, but someone has probably done it. There have been lots of threads that discuss curved construction techniques. I'm sorry you can't find them using the search. Should be there.

[bbcmp1979]

When I was in the planning process for the natalie p, I scour the WWW for information on it and I don't ever remember seeing built in a curved cabinet. I'm sure there are built Nat P w/curved cabinet but probably isn't posted. I think that 50L is 50L whether it's a curved cabinet or not. You'll probably have more advantages like reduced standing waves, etc...

[sprtfan]

There is a nice looking mock up of a Nat P on google sketchup with curved cabinets. I'm not sure if they were ever built though. I'm not sure how useful the mock up would be either but you might be able to contact they guy that uploaded them.

[BigguyZ]

I posted a thread a bit ago showing my progress on a laminated curved cab for a pair of 4Ts I want to build. I actually recently decided to scrap that method (which I was still proud of coming up with), as I have no ingterest in cutting out, triming, and gluing 120+ pieces for the cabinets... now I'm going for a construction similar to the boat building thread here. Basically, it's a frame using hardboard for the sides. I'll post pics when I have time.

The trick is figuring put the area you need for the cross section. If the height is the same, the area of the inside of the square cabinet should equal the area of the curved cabinet. I don't to CAD or anything, so I just bought some graph paper and made a rough outline of what i want using full square inches. Get close to your total area, and the filler space in the smoothed out profile should be pretty close. Then it's time to make some templates.

[ThomasW]

Im wanting to do a tower with the curved design. I have searched and not seen anything.

Unfortunately there's been a corruption in the forum's data-base so currently the search function isn't working properly.

The may not be curved version of the NatP but there are curved versions of designs that are similar to and can be adapted to the NatP..

The threads for these designs are still on the forum but until the search function is fixed it's problematic to find them, unless the builder accidentally stumbles your thread and posts a link to their build.

When the search issue is resolved we'll show you these designs

[fbov]

Anyone know if someone has built the Natalie P in a curved enclosure. Or where I might find links to build threads.

With all due respect, you're in the wrong place for step-by-step instructions.

The idea of DIY is to look at someone else's design, see what they did, then make one (or more) for yourself. There are many curved box build threads here and at other DIY speaker sites. Most likely, you'll see buld techniques that will allow you to make your own design. You already understand the cricital parameters.

Whether you design your own or find a build thread for a 50L box that's 9" wide, you just mount the NatP driver per the baffle layout to make it a curved-sided NatP!

Have fun,
Frank

[snmhanson]

Im wanting to do a tower with the curved design. I have searched and not seen anything. I have no software to design the enclosure. I know how to build the curved design if i only had the dimensions. Could someone help or am I gonna have to wing this.

I guess what im asking is. The 50l design that is suggested is the one I would like to build except with curved cabinets. I know this will change the volume and I need to keep the baffle the same. If I keep the baffle the suggested 9" and curve the sides, will this increase the volume too much. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys

I have drawn plans on Autocad for a curved Statement Monitor design that I am going to build (someday). My design tapers to the rear so that the rear width is about 1/2 the front width similar to the PE/Dayton curved cabinets. Not sure if that is your plan or if your sides are simply going to curve out with the front and back being the same width. Anyway, I did the math on my design to determine the area of the box as if the sides were not curved and then just kind of estimated how much area the curved "slivers" contained. I adjusted my height slightly to compensate for the difference in area because of the curve - I had to make it taller as the taper decreased the volume. I know there is a mathmatical way to get the exact volume but I am too lazy to figure it out and figure that as long as I'm within a few cubic inches I'll be fine.

I recently built a subwoofer with the same basic design previous to this and it turned out just fine, although it was sealed and volume isn't as critical as with other speakers. One idea that was proposed to me was to build the speaker with straight sides all the way around to make construction and volume measurement easier and then to add false curved sides. If you want to be exact in your measurements maybe this could be a solution?

I would be happy to take a shot at drawing a rough sketch of your internal dimensions on Autocad if you would like. I can probably break the interior footprint down enough to get a pretty accurate measurement for area. Then you could multiply the area by the height and factor out any bracing and driver volumes to come up with actual volume. PM me if you would like me to give it a try.

Matt

[jszmgpolk]

Thanks for the help guys! Sorry if I posted in the wrong place. Where should I post for guidance.

Thanks bigguyz I think ill do what you suggest and when I start my build ill try to update with pictures if you guys are interested.

[BigguyZ]

I know I'm definitely interested. I don't know what the deal is, but I love build threads. But then again I'm a builder, not a designer! I think there's enough for both pieces to be in the forum. The description doesn't say it's for design only...

[meb46]

I'm partially way through building a curved sided Cabinet set but this is based on my own design not Natalie P. I had designed mine using a 2D CAD program "Solid Edge" and this calaculates the area of the enclosure and then you can easily work out the volume based on the height. I also turned my design into a 3D Model in Solid Works which works out the volume inclusive of all internal bracing etc, so its pretty accurate. "Solid Edge" is very easy to pick up and this is Free software available on the web (quite sizeable though) that will calculate the area of any cabinet profile and you can then just multiply it my your height etc. This assumes its a common profile over the entire height.

Mike

[jszmgpolk]

thanks meb46

How hard is the program to use. I have never used a cad based program

[meb46]

It's super simple... I started learning from scratch and managed to get the basics drawn and measured within a couple of hours. the basic tutorial lets you learn the absolute minimum in about 45 mins, well enough so you can calculate some volumes etc.

[jszmgpolk]

Im going to increase the 42" height on the 50l design to 46" to compensate for the loss of volume due to the curved sides. Can someone suggest the port length I need to use or is this something I need to play with.

[BobEllis]

Thanks for the help guys! Sorry if I posted in the wrong place. Where should I post for guidance.

This is the right place. I don't think fbov was saying you won't get help here, just that you shouldn't expect what amount to fully developed kits or a design service. (Some of the missions accomplished plans come pretty darned close to kits, though) Ask questions, we'll give you guidance to make YOUR OWN decisions.

If you run into trouble you'll find plenty of help. But this is DIY, get out there and start making something, and learn from the things that don't go as you'd have hoped. The build process is as much of the fun for me as the finished product. Model the enclosure volume in one of the design program and post your proposed port length. Someone will be sure to check your work.

[jszmgpolk]

I have downloaded unibox but am unable to do anything I guess because I have Win 7 and the excel version is 2010. I see that unibox uses excel 2000. Any suggestions.

[BobEllis]

I'd think excel 2010 could open 2000 files. Perhaps you need to add some of the tool packages.

From http://audio.claub.net/software/kougaard/ubmodel.html

Please remember to go to Tools | Options | Security | Macro Security and set the level to Medium to ensure all the macros are allowed to run.

You can also use WinISD or another package.

[jszmgpolk]

Inductors

Is there any sonic advantage to using the perfect layer 14 gauge inductors or would the Jantzen 15 gauge inductors be suitable for the Natalie P near wall x-over?

[jszmgpolk]

pictures

I have started my cabinets and taken pictures but when i try to download them it says the file is to big. How do I download the pix

[looneybomber]

Upload them to Photo-bucket.com and paste the link here.

[BigguyZ]

I've always used a freeware program called pictray. Very easy to use (drag and drop), and you can quickly re-size pictures that way.

[cobblepots]

I have downloaded unibox but am unable to do anything I guess because I have Win 7 and the excel version is 2010. I see that unibox uses excel 2000. Any suggestions.

You should be able to run it in compatability mode. Right click on the executable and choose compatability or something like that... I'm at the office and don't have Win 7 in front of me. You should be able to choose different operating systems in the pull down. Pick XP SP2 or SP3 and see what happens.

[---k---]

Is there any sonic advantage to using the perfect layer 14 gauge inductors or would the Jantzen 15 gauge inductors be suitable for the Natalie P near wall x-over?

There is no sonic benefit. But, the 14 gauge will have a lower DCR and therefore more bass. The point of the on-wall is to reduce the mass to compensate for being nearer to the wall. This is something that may need to be experimented with (or corrected with the receiver EQ).

[bigbardmusiq]

Im wanting to do a tower with the curved design. I have searched and not seen anything. I have no software to design the enclosure. I know how to build the curved design if i only had the dimensions. Could someone help or am I gonna have to wing this.

I guess what im asking is. The 50l design that is suggested is the one I would like to build except with curved cabinets. I know this will change the volume and I need to keep the baffle the same. If I keep the baffle the suggested 9" and curve the sides, will this increase the volume too much. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys

here's a curved design! http://techtalk.parts-express.com/sh...d.php?t=218438

[fbov]

This is the right place. I don't think fbov was saying you won't get help here, just that you shouldn't expect what amount to fully developed kits or a design service. ...

+1 This is what I intended to convey; thanks for translating.

Lots of help available, albeit with long pauses inbetween, for those not checking the forum daily (hourly?).

Frank